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audioaujom · 1 year

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(5) Automatonophobia

LTWF Hub, < prev, next >

No TWs, just more crazy antics and some writing of the whole gang together (finally)! It’s pretty dialogue heavy, so I hope you enjoy!

Word Count: 2972

Throwing open the plain wooden door with a grin, Patton excitedly gestured inside to a rather unimpressed Logan. “This is my dorm!”

“It seems like an adequate living space.” Logan nodded as he followed Patton inside, taking in the two wildly different halves of the small dorm.

The right side was very clearly Patton’s, with fairy lights tacked to the very top line of the wall over the bed covered in piles of fluffy blankets, stuffed animals, and pillows of various pastel colors. Every surface of the desk was covered in small knick-knacks—Pokemon figurines next to squishies of various shapes—and a Polaroid camera tucked into the corner of the top shelf that was free of even a speck of dust. A small cork board hung on the wall between the bed and desk and was covered in photographs—mostly of Patton, though Logan spotted Virgil in more than in a few—and handwritten notes.

The other side belonged to Patton’s roommate Roman, the scarlet sheets not well made up and the desk covered in loose paper, books, and a large speaker on the top shelf. The wall behind the bed had every inch covered by large musical and movie posters, a handful of them covered in sharpie signatures and some of them with matching playbills displayed on the desk.

Between the two was a microwave precariously balanced on top of a rather large mini-fridge, the power cables for both stretched nearly to their limit to reach the busted wall outlet beside the window above Patton’s bed. Both beds had a window above them, the blinds pulled down all the way over both to keep the late evening sun from warming the room too much.

“It is! And I’ve got it all decorated and everything!” Patton ran inside and jumped onto his bed, picking up a cat shaped pillow and hugging it into his chest. “This is my half, the other is Roman’s.”

“Ah.” Logan hummed, entirely unsurprised. He spared one final glance at the wall of posters as he shut the door behind him, walking over to take a seat at Patton’s desk. “He seems to enjoy the art of make believe.”

“Yeah, he’s pretty big into theater.” Patton laughed, setting the pillow down to pat the bed beside him. “That’s why he’s not here right now, actually. He’s got a rehearsal.”

“I see.” Logan hesitated for a moment before getting up and taking a seat beside Patton on the bed. “You have quite the collection of stuffed animals.”

“Yes!” Patton instantly pushed himself back towards the wall so the full pile of plushies and pillows that made up a mock headboard could be better seen. “They all have names and they are all my friends!” He then paused, realizing what he was saying and face flushing as he picked up a small elephant and put it in his lap. “I… know it’s a little childish.”

“Acting upon child-like ideas and motivations is not always a bad thing, Patton.” Logan shook his head, reaching out and picking up a small white cat and holding it in his hands. “Is there a particular reason you cherish them so much?”

“Well… I always wanted a collection when I was a kid, but my parents said I couldn’t have more than a few.” Patton stared into the carefully arranged pile, a sad smile slowly spreading across his face as he poked at each plushie instead of glancing at Logan. “So, um, I collected them in secret during high school. About a quarter of these are gifts from Virgil for making it into school, though. That's why it’s so big now!”

“I see.” Logan was smiling slightly when Patton snuck a peek back over at him, having set the cat down across his legs. “As long as they make you happy, I can understand why collecting them could be seen as a worthwhile hobby.”

“Do you want to meet them?!” Patton exclaimed excitedly, Logan unable to say no as Patton lit up and began gently handling every single stuffed animal with a kind of delicacy that had Logan's smile growing, listening intently to every name until some noise from the hallway outside interrupted the moment.

The noise turned to shuffling directly outside the dorm door, before the door then unlocked and swung open as Patton’s roommate started to step through with a wide grin.

“Honey, I’m ho—OH MY GOD!” Roman slammed the door shut in his own face, Logan and Patton sharing a look as Roman then had to unlock and open the door for a second time. “What the hell is that thing doing in here?!”

“Oh, hey!” Patton brightened up, smiling. “Roman, this is Logan! Logan, this is my roommate Roman.”

“Hello. It’s nice to make your acquaintance.” Logan stood up and started to extend a hand towards Roman, who jumped back in surprise.

“Oh shit! It talks!”

Logan tilted his head to one side, a small frown forming on his face. “...I’m confused.”

“Oh course he does!” Patton was also confused, looking at Roman questioningly. “How else would he teach?”

The three stared at each other for a long moment, before Roman tentatively asked, “...teach?”

“Do you even go to class at all?” Patton tilted his head to one side, a little annoyed by Roman’s confusion. “He's the guy from my astronomy class I was talking about!”

“The guy… from your astronomy… class… is… a…” Roman’s face changed as he spoke aloud, clearly processing the information before suddenly blurting, “Well now hold on a diddly damn darned second! You never said he was a robot!”

Patton smiled sheepishly, holding the white cat that Logan had on his lap earlier. “I didn’t realize that was relevant.”

“If my presence makes you uncomfortable in any way, I can vacate your residence.” Logan offered, gesturing for Roman to stop blocking the door. “Patton and I could resume our discussion either at a later date or in another location.”

“No, Logan, you don't have to go.” Patton leaned forward to grab Logan by the upper arm, eyes pleasing as he pulled him back towards the bed before he could walk away.

“No! Yes, he does! He— Yes!” Roman blanched as Patton glared over at him, him looking between the two nervously.

“I thought you said you didn’t mind if I had friends over?”

“Well of course I don’t mind, it’s just…” Roman awkwardly looked away, face flushing as he admitted, “Those things are creepy. They freak me out.”

“By ‘those things’, are you referring to us androids in general?” Logan asked, Roman pressing his lips into a thin line as he nodded in affirmation.

“Yeah! You look and sound so… real.” Roman shuddered, finally dropping his backpack and shedding the jacket he had on. “It’s unnerving!”

The three boys stared at each other for a long moment before Roman grimaced, waving a hand dismissively into the air and turning his full attention to the ziploc bag full of half-melted ice he pulled out of his bag on the floor.

“But… whatever. If Patton wants you here that bad you can stay. Oh, and Virgil told me to bring you ice. Didn’t say what for.”

Logan sat back down on the bed beside Patton, looking to him for confirmation before quickly recounting, “Some kids attacked him while we were reviewing notes earlier.”

“Oh, shit! Let me see!” Dashing forward, Roman almost dropped the ice in his haste to figure out what happened, reaching out for Patton’s face.

“I’m fine, Roman, really—!” Patton immediately put both arms out, pushing Roman away before he could touch him, Logan noticing the nearly imperceptible flinch that the other clearly missed.

“Names.” Roman demanded as he noticed the now purple bruise spreading across Patton’s cheek, hands clenched at his sides. “I want their names.”

Patton shook his head, subconsciously trying to block the injury with one of his hands as the other reached out to take the bag from his roommate. “No, no, come on. Just… it stings. Let me have the ice.”

“Oh. Sure. Sorry.” Roman worriedly watched Patton as he handed the bag over, gently pressing it against his face.

“If you would like, I can—” Logan interrupted, Roman whirling to the side and swinging a wild punch that collided with Logan’s chest, not hurting the android but startling him as his words were cut off in a loud swear from Roman.

“Ow! Fuck, man, I forgot you were made of metal. That hurt.” Shaking out his hand, Roman winced and offered Logan an apologetic smile. “Sorry. Ow. What were you saying?”

“I was simply planning on offering to hold the ice. The temperature will not affect my hand in the same way.” Logan returned the smile as best he could, turning to look at Patton. “Meaning I can hold it for longer.”

“It’s okay, Logan. Thanks though.” Patton shook his head, pulling the ice off the bruise for a few moments before putting it back.

“You’re so lifelike you may as well be.” Roman uttered incredulously, both Logan and Patton unsure if he meant to say that out loud. He then abruptly turned around, busying himself with his phone as he declared, “Well, I’ll let you two have this room to make out or whatever it is you were planning on doing—!”

“Roman!” Patton cut him off with a squeak, before composing himself and countering, “If you’re leaving to go see Virgil, just invite him over, too.”

“...how’d you know?” Roman looked up through light bangs that had fallen in the way of his eyes, face crimson. “Am I really that obvious?!”

“I am told I am rather dense and usually unaware of these things, but…” Logan interjected, Patton trying to suppress giggles from beside him. “I noticed as well.”

“Well fuck.”

“Which means Virge probably has too.” Patton shrugged, meeting Roman’s still concerned stare with a teasing, “So go on. See if he’ll come over.”

“You…! You are…! I’m going to come up with something very mean and witty later!” Sputtering, Roman turned and flopped onto his bed, rapidly typing on his phone as Patton and Logan shared an amused look.

Patton waited for a minute, watching as Roman’s face lit up and prodding, “So?”

“He’ll be here in a few minutes.” Roman answered a little too quickly, before turning an accusatory glare to Patton as he opened his mouth. “I don’t want to hear it!”

The three chatted idly for the next few minutes, Patton continually icing his face on and off until there was a sharp knock at the dorm door that Roman rushed to answer.

“...I hope this isn’t an intervention.” Virgil commented with a smirk, looking between the three in the room.

“Nope! Just a playdate!” Patton grinned from the bed, pulling the ice away from his face to flash him the widest smile he could muster. “Unless you want Logan and I to go so you two can have a real one!”

“Yuck. Like I’d ever spend alone time with his majesty, the royal pain in my ass.” Virgil stuck his tongue out, Patton giggling as Virgil cleared off a spot on Roman’s desk to hop up and sit down.

“Excuse me!” Roman gasped, offended, turning indignant eyes to the boy on his desk. “There is no need for such salty nicknames, Cynic-ella.”

“Not one of your best.” Virgil smirked as Roman gasped again, the two starting to bicker as Logan leaned over to Patton in confusion.

“What are they talking about?”

“The school is doing a production of Cinderella, and Roman is the prince.” Patton explained, removing the ice from his face again as he watched Virgil and Roman go at each other fondly.

“Does that imply Virgil is playing the princess?” Logan asked, eyes widening as Patton doubled over laughing, his shoulders shaking with the effort of trying to stay relatively quiet. “Why are you laughing?”

“Virgil just helps him run his lines.” Patton corrected after he caught his breath, still shaking with the aftershocks of his laughing fit. “He doesn’t act.”

“Oh. I apologize, I misunderstood.” Logan nodded, before taking a lull in Virgil and Roman’s bickering as an opportunity for him to get off the bed and approach Roman to ask, “Could I bother you with a question or two?”

Roman blinked, awkwardly putting some extra space between the two before nodding, albeit a little confused. “Oh, um, sure. How can I help you?”

Patton didn't get to hear Logan’s question, his attention caught by Virgil jogging over and stealing Logan's spot on the bed. “Just so you know, I approve of him.”

“What?” Instantly turning bright red, Pattong almost threw the bag of ice he was holding in surprise as he glanced over to see Virgil’s self-satisfied grin. “No, it’s not—! I’m not—! How could I possibly—?”

“I don’t mean like that.” Virgil shook his head, but the words turned insincere as he added, “But if you want things to be like that you have my blessing as well—”

“Virge!”

“He’s just cut from better cloth than your usual taste, that’s all.” Virgil defended, Patton going quiet as his friend's expression turned serious. “And for me to say that about a robot—even one who seems to be bordering on fully sentient—means a lot.”

“I know.” The heaviness of the words made Patton sigh, picking up the same cat pillow from earlier to give it a one handed hug as he put the ice back to his face. “I, uh, never thanked you. For all your help with…”

“You can thank me by being happy with Logan, alright?” Virgil smiled softly, reaching a hand out towards Patton’s shoulder and waiting for a tentative nod to give him a gentle pat and a squeeze for comfort. “Though I am surprised he and Roman can hold a conversation, given Ro’s aversion to—”

“HOW DARE YOU! ACTING IS SO MUCH MORE THAN ROLEPLAYING!” Roman suddenly yelled, Virgil and Patton sharing an unsurprised glance. “AND FOR THAT MATTER ROLEPLAYING IS ALSO AN ACCEPTABLE HOBBY!”

“I stand corrected. Let me go rein him in.” Virgil rolled his eyes, sliding off the bed and casually walking over to Roman. “What’s going on, you two?”

“I understand the concept of acting in theory, but the idea of representing false emotions I do not personally feel in front of an audience sounds rather strange. I simply asked him a question about it.” Logan looked at Virgil, visibly concerned by Roman’s outburst.

“No, you accused me of being shallow!” Roman whined, crossing his arms as Virgil shot an amused glance back at Patton.

“That was not my intention.” Logan frowned, brows knitting together as he earnestly continued, “I just wish to understand your… craft… a little better. I apologize if I upset you.”

Roman’s glare slowly tempered, eventually mumbling out, “Apology accepted, WALL-E.” A moment of silence started to stretch out, though it was nearly immediately broken by Roman commenting, “God, you really may as well just be a person.”

Logan blinked a few times, not following. “I can not tell if that is a complement or an insult.”

“Me either.” Roman shrugged, before wildly gesturing across the room with a much less enraged shout of, “Quick subject change: Patton! How is your face?”

“Still stings.” Patton sighed, pressing the ice against his face and relishing in the familiar soothing feeling of the cold. “It’s not that bad, and it’ll only be like this for another day or two.”

“Can I take another look?” Virgil asked, something unreadable in his expression.

“Yeah, just…”

“Be careful, I know.” Nodding, Virgil’s expression softened. “I won’t touch.”

“I’m sure it looks worse than it is.” Patton tried to sound optimistic, moving the ice away from his face so Virgil could get a better look.

“That’s not a comfort, Patton.” Roman chastised, sitting down on his bed with a huff. “I’m serious, if you just give me names, I’ll—!”

“Roman.” Virgil scolded without turning to look, Roman deflating.

“Sorry.”

Seemingly satisfied, Virgil left Patton to nurse his face as Roman came over to continue to bug him, taking the moment to address Logan. “Patton’s single, by the way.” He said lightly, Logan jolting up in surprise as if he'd been shocked. “Just if you were wondering.”

“Why would I be wondering that?” Logan questioned, Virgil smirking at the visible tension in his shoulders.

“Your eyes are quite expressive.” Virgil answered honestly, sitting back up on Roman’s desk as Logan awkwardly hovered nearby. “His last try at dating ended pretty badly, but I think you’d be good for him.”

“Do not forget that I am not real. I am an android, Virgil.” Logan warned, Virgil raising his eyebrows disbelievingly. He cleared his throat, pointedly ignoring the look. “And while I understand you and Patton are quite close, don’t you feel as if you are overstepping?”

“Not even a little.” Virgil grinned wide, Logan giving him a blank look in return. “Not since he started trying to set me up with Roman.”

“Then is this some form of retribution for that? Because I can assure you that Roman has some sort of feelings for—”

“Nah. Let’s just call it repaying the favor.” Virgil shrugged, crossing one leg over the other to lean just a little closer to Logan and mutter, “I know you’re more than the metal you think you are.”

Logan didn't have a reply, instead turning his attention back to Patton and Roman, who weren't arguing, per se, but Patton was thoroughly done with his roommate if his face was any indication of his feelings.

“Violence is never the answer, Roman!”

“You’re right.” Roman acquiesced with a sigh, before a smile grew across his face as he dramatically gestured alongside his counter of, “Violence is the question, and the answer is a resounding yes!”

“ROMAN!”

#sanders sides fanfiction #sanders sides #sanders sides fic #college au #robot au #fanfiction #fanfic #cross posted on ao3 #writing #fluff #logan sanders #patton sanders #roman sanders #virgil sanders #logicality #prinxiety #light angst

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